The air shook as the Night Beast roared, its wings stretching wide enough to scrape the high stone pillars of the endless hall. Its black hide shimmered in the torchlight, veins glowing faint red like lava running beneath the skin. Slowly few beast enter in the Mansion but not fully
Oban froze, breath short. He had seen monsters before, but this was no ordinary enemy. The beast's presence felt like an entire storm pressing against his chest. His system screen Open before his eyes:
[Warning: Unknown Entity Detected] Classification: Night Beast (Mutant Class) Tier Level: 5. Danger: Extreme. Recommended Action: Evade or Combine Power]
His throat dried. "Tier… five?" he muttered. "That means this thing isn't weaker than me…"
Before he could think further, Amrin's voice cut through the tension."Stay sharp, Oban! This isn't a fight you can win alone!"
Her hands lifted, and waves of sound shimmered in the air around her like ripples in water. The very stones vibrated under her power.
The beast hissed, sensing her movement, and lunged. Its claw came down like a blade. Oban's instincts screamed, and he leapt back, but even then the shockwave knocked him off his feet. His body rolled across the cold marble floor until he forced himself up, coughing.
Amrin's voice carried across the hall. "Oban, trust me! I'll shatter its body from the inside. You hold it down!"
Oban's system chimed again, as if syncing with her words:
[New Task: Assist Amrin] Condition: Immobilize target for 10 seconds. Reward: Skill Upgrade Available. Penalty: Severe Injury or Death]
He swallowed hard. "Why does it always sound like death is right behind me…"
But he moved. Sprinting low, Oban dashed forward, his hands burning with raw energy he had barely learned to control. The beast swung again, but this time he slipped beneath its claws and planted his palm on its leg. Energy pulsed, and chains of dark light erupted from the ground, binding the limb.
The Night Beast roared, slamming its body around, but the chains held—if only for a moment.
"Now!" Oban shouted.
Amrin's fangs showed as she clenched her teeth, sound waves blasting out in a sharp scream. The air cracked. The waves tore through the beast's skin, vibrating into its core. Its roars turned into a distorted shriek as blood burst from its ears and mouth.
Still, the monster refused to fall. It thrashed, shattering two of the chains.
Oban's system flickered again:
[Energy Critical. Options: Overdrive Mode available. Warning: High risk to user's body.]
His chest heaved. "If I don't… we'll die here."
Oban gritted his teeth and pressed his palm to the floor. "Activate… Overdrive!"
The system's tone grew mechanical:
[Overdrive Mode: Engaged. Duration: 20 seconds.]
His body ignited with a red glow, veins lighting up like wires charged with power. Pain shot through his bones, but strength flooded every muscle. He rushed the beast, grabbing its second leg and slamming it down with force he didn't know he had.
Chains erupted again, thicker this time, crawling over its body.
Amrin screamed once more. The sound tore the beast from the inside, its body convulsing, blood spraying across the marble floor.
The ground shook. Then, at last, the Night Beast collapsed, its massive body crumbling to ash that scattered across the hall like burnt paper.
Oban dropped to his knees, gasping for air. His system dimmed, the red glow fading.
[Overdrive Complete. Damage to body: 43%. Rest recommended.] [Reward: Skill Upgrade – Dark Restraint II]
Amrin rushed to his side, kneeling. "You idiot… you nearly killed yourself."
Oban gave a weak grin, his chest still rising and falling fast. "Well… we're alive, aren't we?"
Before either could say more, the sound of footsteps echoed from the far side of the hall. Shadows stretched across the walls as a group of figures appeared—vampires, their eyes glowing faintly in the dim light.
The one in front was tall, with pale silver hair and a scar across his cheek. His aura was sharp and heavy, even stronger than Amrin's.
"Interesting," the man said, his voice calm but cutting. "A newborn vampire who can activate Overdrive. And Amrin… still as reckless as ever."
Amrin stiffened. "Kael…" she muttered.
Oban blinked, trying to push himself up despite the pain. "Who… who's this guy?"
Kael's red eyes locked onto him. "Another piece on the board. The castle is waking, and not all who live here will welcome you."
Behind him, more vampires stood, each with strange marks and weapons, their powers humming in the air. Oban's system flickered again, marking them with red warnings:
[Multiple Entities Detected] Classification: Vampires – Unique Abilities Unknown Tier Range: 5–7. High Threat Level.
The tension rose. Amrin helped Oban to his feet, her hand tight on his arm.
"Then Amrin said More beast is coming just be prepare...